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StumbleuponRudi Johnson knows he's trade bait
Running back's production has been slowed by injury, and Cincinnati is in the market for a wide receiver.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
CINCINNATI — Trade winds swirled inside the Paul Brown Stadium locker room on Tuesday, Aug. 26, nearly whisking veteran tailback Rudi Johnson out the door.
Reports that he'll be dealt in exchange for a wide receiver didn't catch him by surprise.
"Not at all," Johnson said. "They've been trying to get me out of here for a long time now. I'm just waiting on the call, looking at the clock. I could be gone any minute now.
"I'm not disappointed, I'm not bothered, I'm not worried. Just move on. That's part of the game, part of the business, so I'll let it be. I'll be fine."
ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Monday night the Bengals are shopping Johnson for a wide receiver, a position that needs help in the wake of Chad Johnson's left shoulder injury. Chad will attempt to play with his injury, but one more big hit or bad fall on the shoulder could end his season.
"It is rumor and it really makes no sense for me to confirm or deny anything at any point in time until something is done one way or another with a player," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "That's the time of the year it is. Everybody is a rumor right now."
Rudi also has been dealing with injuries. After averaging 1,407 rushing yards from 2004-06 and establishing himself as one of the league's most durable backs, his production plummeted to 497 yards in 2007 because of a left hamstring injury.
He added 11 pounds to his 5-foot-10 frame in the offseason, bulking up to 225, and appeared faster in workouts. But a strained right hamstring suffered early in training camp set him back.
Chris Perry and Kenny Watson have emerged as the team's one-two punch at tailback, leaving Johnson as trade bait. He's due to make his 2008 debut in the preseason finale at Indianapolis on Thursday night. The game could be his audition for 31 other teams.
Johnson, whose base salary is $3.2 million, expects to be gone soon.
"Yeah, I'm expecting anything," he said. "It's out there, so evidently it's true. I'm prepared, I'm ready. I'm fine with that. It's no big deal to me."
The team that acquires Johnson will get a bulldozing power back. His 5,742 rushing yards ranks third in club history behind Corey Dillon (8,061) and James Brooks (6,447). Johnson isn't a breakaway threat, but he moves the chains and helps kill the clock in the fourth quarter.
What's his Denver-based agent, Peter Schaffer, telling him?
"Just stay tuned and see what happens," Rudi said. "Don't be surprised by anything. That's my approach. I'm not sweating."
